of just right approach, but by that time, those performances and all the other factors in the 2011 election held him back. >> how important is humor? >> it can be very important, but it's something that has to -- i guess some humorous lines probably are prescripted. there you go again by reagan most people feel w prepared. that, of course, is the magic. >> remember what lloyd benson said about dan quayle and president kennedy. >> yes, that was the famous line, jack kennedy was a friend of mine. senator, you're no jack kennedy. >> in jim lair's book "turning point," he makes the case that they prepared that line in advance because dan quayle had made that comment over and over again. >> the comparison with president clinton. >> so both those campaigns are going in with prescripted lines having watched what the other candidates are saying. >> it's worth noting that mitt romney has been debating over the past two years with his opponents. president obama has been practicing, no doubt, but it's harder for a president to do because he's busier and doesn't like being addressed in a challenging wa